High-speed rail viable for economy: study

POLITICIANS agree a high speed rail line along Australia's east coast could be a visionary game changer that could prepare the nation for its future.

But making a 1748 kilometre fast train rail track between Brisbane and Melbourne a reality within 50 years requires tough decisions by governments likely to baulk at the estimated $114 billion price tag.

Federal transport minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday released the second and final report on a high-speed rail network, which the study forecast would be fully operating by 2065.

"There is no doubt that there are challenges with this but I think high-speed rail will be an important part of Australia's future," Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.

He stressed the report was not the government's position but he was releasing it for public discussion because it raised all the issues of building such a complex project from scratch.

"The route, the costs, the environmental consequences - these all have to be thoroughly examined and understood before decisions can be finalised," he said.

"The report throws up a myriad of issues. Like all major projects, this one would mean some tough decisions and potential trade-offs."

The study found the network was financially viable and could return $2.30 to the economy for every dollar invested.

Travel from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane would take under three hours, while a trip from Canberra to the NSW capital would be 64 minutes.

The line could carry 84 million passengers a year with 19 million trips between Sydney and Melbourne.